Match holder and dispenser



July 3, 1962 J. B. MERILA 3,042,190

MATCH HOLDER AND DISPENSER Filed Sept. 20, 1961 ,3 IN VENTOR.

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United States Patent 3,042,190 MATCH HQLDER AND DISPENSER John B. Merila, 3025 Troost Ave, Kansas City 9, M0. Filed Sept. 20, 1961, Ser. No. 139,427 Claims. (Cl. 206-20) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in match holders and dispensers, and has particular reference to match holders and dispensers of the type wherein the matches are normally enclosed and concealed in a suitable container.

An important object of the present invention is the provision of a match holder and dispenser of the character described having an operating handle or lever by means of which the container is opened and the matches extended from said container to a position in which they may conveniently be grasped for removal, in a single operation.

Another object is the provision of a match holder and dispenser of the character described including a cartridge containing a large quantity of matches, said cartridge being adjustable whereby, on manipulation of said operating handle, any desired portion of said cartridge will be exposed and extended from said container.

A further object is the provision of a match holder and dispenser of the character described wherein said operating handle is adapted, by selective movement in different directions to expose different portions of the cartridge of matches.

A still further object is the provision of a match holder and dispenser of the character described having certain safety provisions. For example, a second container is utilized in communicating relationship with the match container, in such a way that any lighted match, cigarette or the like which might be dropped into the match container by accident will pass therethrough into the second container, thereby decreasing the danger of igniting the matches in the match container. Also, the match container is adapted to close automatically whenever the operating handle is released. This provides that if the matches therein are accidentally ignited, the flame will be contained and will tend to be snuffed out for lack of oxygen.

Other objects are simplicity and economy of construction, efiiciency and dependability of operation, and adaptability for use in conjunction with other standard smoking appliances such as ash trays and smoking stands.

With these objects in view, as well as other objects which will appear in the course of the specification, reference will be had to the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a match holder and dispenser embodying the present invention, with parts broken away,

FIG. 2 is a side elev ational view of the device as shown in FIG. 1, and

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line Ill-HI of FIG. 2, with parts left in elevation and partially broken away, showing the device closed in solid lines, and in one of its open positions in dotted lines.

Like reference numerals apply to similar parts throughout the several views, and the numeral 2 applies to a dishshaped container which may be an ash tray such as is commonly utilized in smoking, and which may be formed of sheet metal or any other suitable rigid material. A circular, bowl-shaped match container 4 is supported in spaced relation above tray 2 by means of four legs 6 extending vertically and n'gidly connected at their ends to containers 2 and 4 respectively. Container 4 is open at the top, and is provided at its bottom with a central aperture 3 which is not obstructed by legs 6.

A pivot shaft 1% extends diametrically and horizontally across the top of container 4, said shaft being supported at its ends by a pair of upstanding brackets 12 atfixed to 3,042,190 Patented July 3, 1962 said container respectively at opposite sides thereof. The top of said container is normally closed by a pair of semi-circular planar doors 14 and 16. Said doors are pivoted along their straight contiguous edges on shaft 14 so that each may be pivotally raised independently of the other. Said doors are of slightly larger diameter than the top of container 4, so as to rest on the upper edge thereof, and are normally held closed by gravity.

Also pivoted on shaft 10 is a normally vertical handle or lever 18, said handle being disposed at the midpoint of said shaft, and said shaft extending diametrically through said handle. Said handle extends upwardly from said shaft whereby it may conveniently be grasped for pivoting it relative to the shaft, and extends downwardly from said shaft through an aperture 20 iormed by matching notches cut in the mating edges of doors 1 4 and 16. At its lower end, the handle is provided with an integral circular flange 22, the upper surface of which is normally engaged by both of doors 14 and 16, when said doors are closed. Thus when handle 18 is pivoted to the right as indicated in dotted lines in FIG. 3, flange 22 opens door 14 pivotally upwardly, and door 16 remains closed. Likewise, when handle 18 is pivoted to the left, flange 22 opens door 16, while door 14 remains closed.

A screw 24 is threaded axially into the lower end of handle 18, and extends vertically downwardly therefrom. It is provided at its lower end with an integral circular flange 26, which is of equal diameter to flange 22 but spaced apart therefrom. Flange 26 is provided on its lower surface with a depending central boss 28, the cylindrical surface of which may be knurled to facilitate operation of the screw. Mounted on screw 24 intermediate flanges 22 and 126 is a cartridge of matches indicated generally by the numeral 30. As shown, said cartridge comprises a cylindrical core 32 having an axial bore 34 for receiving screw 24 and a plurality of pasteboard strips 36 extending radially from said core to a diameter larger than flanges 22 and 26, the planes of said strips being parallel to the core iaxis. Said strips radiate in the manner of the spokes of a wheel. The portion of each strip extending outwardly from flanges 22 and 26 is slitted longitudinally whereby to form individual sections forming match sticks 38 (see FIG. 3), and each of said sections. is tipped with friction ignitable material to form a match head 40. The strips 36 are of course of the same type utilized in ordinary paper book matches, and are secured in assembly with core 32 by a pair of pasteboard discs 42 overlying the upper and lower ends of core 32 and of sufficient diameter to overlap the inner end portions of strips 36. Said discs are glued or otherwise affixed both to the core and to the edges of strips 36. The match cartridge is mounted in the holder by first removing screw 24 from handle 18, inserting said screw through bore 34 of the core, and again affixing said screw in the handle. Said screw is turned so that the cartridge is gripped frictionally between flanges 22 and 26 with sufficient firmness to prevent said cartridge from rotating freely on the screw, but to permit said cartridge to be rotated if considerable torque is applied thereto.

The operation of the device is believed readily apparent. When handle 18 is pivoted in one direction or the other to open either door 14 or door 16, as previously described, the match cartridge 30 of course maintains its normal relationship to the handle, and hence to the door being opened, and one side of the cartridge of matches is exposed and extended upwardly from container 4, also as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 3. With the parts in this position, one of the matches 38 may be grasped and torn easily from its paper strip 36. A disc 44 of material on which the matches may be struck is affixed to the upper surface of each of doors 14 and 16. Thus only a portion of the matches is exposed each time the handle 13 is operated, while the remainder of the matches remain enclosed and protected in container 4. This is a safety provision in that with fewer matches exposed, there is less danger that the matches of the entire cartridge will become ignited by accident. When the matches from one side of the cartridge are exhausted, handle 13 may be pivoted in the opposite direction, whereby the opposite side of the cartridge will be extended from the container for easy access. To provide easy access to the matches which are disposed directly beneath shaft 1d, the entire cartridge may be rotated ninety degrees of screw 24. The weight of the doors 14 and 16 is sufficiently great to remain closed despite any unbalance of the cartridge caused by removal of a part of the matches therefrom.

If a lighted match, cigarette or the like is accidentally dropped into container 4, it will fall through the bottom aperture 8 of said container into tray container 2, rendering it quite unlikely that the matches still remaining in the cartridge would be ignited thereby. Moreover, in the event the matches of the cartridge should become ignited, and the operator instinctively withdraws his hands, the doors 14 and 16 will close automatically by gravity. Thus the flames will tend to be snuffed out, or will at least be confined within the container, whereby to reduce the danger of any uncontrolled fire or injury to the operator. The match cartridge 30 is of course replaceable when the matches are exhausted therefrom.

While I have shown and described a specific embodiment of my invention, it will be readily apparent that many minor changes of structure and operation could be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A match holder and dispenser comprising a bowlshaped container open at the top, a cover hinged to said container whereby to open pivotally upwardly, a normally vertical handle pivoted to said container coaxially with said cover and extending both upwardly from said cover and downwardly into said container, a transverse projection fixed to said handle within said container and projecting horizontally beneath said cover to a point trans versely offset from the axis thereof, whereby as said handle is pivoted said projection will open said cover, and matches carried by said handle beneath said projection and extending horizontally beneath said cover transversely to the cover axis, whereby as said handle is pivoted to open said cover, said matches will be extended upwardly from said container.

2. A match holder and dispenser comprising a bowlshaped container open at the top, a pair of semi-circular covers normally closing the top of said container and hinged coaxially and independently to said container on a horizontal axis disposed diametrically thereto, 21 normally vertical handle disposed coaxially with said container and pivoted thereto coaxially with said covers, said handle extending both upwardly above said covers and downwardly within said container, a horizontal projection fixed to said handle within said container and overlapping the lower surfaces of both of said covers, whereby as said handle is pivoted selectively in opposite directions from vertical, said projection will open one or the other of said covers, and a plurality of matches carried by said handle beneath said projection and extending horizontally and transversely in both directions from the axis of said cover.

3. A match holder and dispenser as recited in claim 2 wherein said matches are carried in a cartridge so as to extend radially from an axis, and wherein is provided means for attaching said cartridge to said handle coaxially therewith.

4. A match holder and dispenser as recited in claim 2 wherein said matches are carried in a cartridge so as to extend radially from an axis, and wherein is provided means for attaching said cartridge to said handle coaxially therewith, said cartridge being rotatably adjustable about the axis of said handle.

5. A match holder and dispenser as recited in claim 1 wherein said container has an aperture formed in the bottom thereof, and with the addition of a second opentopped container disposed in spaced relation below said bowl-shaped container, and means rigidly interconnecting said container.

No references cited. 

